Slip Ring

CT scanner gantries rotate continuously at speeds up to 300 rpm while transferring kilowatts of power to the X-ray tube, transmitting gigabits of image data, and providing position feedback from an integrated encoder. Slip ring and gantry subsystems for CT applications must address all three functions simultaneously within a compact, high-reliability rotating assembly.

Slip rings enable continuous electrical transmission in industrial rotating equipment — cranes, centrifuges, cable reels, and packaging lines. Each application imposes distinct power, data, and environmental requirements on the slip ring assembly. This article maps application constraints to the correct slip ring architecture.